[Review] Threats of Sky and Sea by Jennifer Ellision

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Synopsis:
Sixteen year-old Breena Perdit has spent her life as a barmaid, innocent to her father’s past and happily free from the Elemental gifts that would condemn her to a life in the Egrian King’s army. Until the day that three Elemental soldiers recognize her father as a traitor to the throne and Bree’s father is thrown in jail—along with the secrets from his last mission as the King’s assassin. Secrets that could help the King win a war. Secrets he refuses to share.

Desperate to escape before the King’s capricious whims prove her and her father’s downfall, Bree bargains with him: information for their lives. It’s a good trade. And she has faith she’ll get them both out of the King’s grasp with time.

But that was before the discovery that she’s the weapon the King’s been waiting for in his war.

Now, time is running out. To save her father’s life and understand her own, Bree must unravel the knot of her father’s past before the King takes his life– and uses her to bring a nation to its knees.

I received an e-ARC from the author via NetGalley for an honest review. This fact in no shape or form affects my review. Except for the existence of the review itself. I received no compensation for this review in any way.This is my honest opinion of the work.

I definitely enjoyed this one. It reminds me a little bit of Graceling and also Throne of Glass with the supernatural and evil King elements as well as the fantasy and political intrigue.

The book introduces the reader to Breena, a barmaid, who discovers that her father is a traitor to the kingdom in the worst way possible when the King's men arrest both her and her father.

She discovers that her father is a duke and was once the best friend of the King before disappearing for sixteen years. She is brought into court life while her father stays in prison to atone for his treachery. The king uses Breena's father to control her and to get what he wants, information on a treasure that he stole and kept away from the King.

The supernatural powers in this book correspond with the elements and have their own names. Those who control fire are called Torchers, those who control air are called Riders, those who control the earth are called Shakers and for water, they are Throwers. Their powers are usually revealed on their seventeenth birthday or perhaps some time after that. I enjoyed this aspect of the book, though we aren't given a map of what the land looks like and not much world building is done to give the reader an idea of the world outside of the castle. World building is crucial in fantasy because a whole new world is created.

I don't feel as if there was all too much character developing for any of the characters aside from Bree. Things just happened to the other characters whilst I felt Bree was the only one who did some growing from those events. Bree annoyed me to some extent simply because she was very do first, think later whilst I am the opposite. However, some of the things she says are pretty funny. My favourite character would have to be Aleta. She is a very interesting character and I would love to get to know her more. Her predicament is an interesting one, especially when you get to the end.

I don't really know what to make of the romance in this book. It seemed to come out of nowhere and simply thrown in for the sake of romance. I think it would have been just as good had the romance not been there. It was just somewhat awkward and weird because though I suspected it, I didn't expect it to happen simply because it would have been perfectly find without it.

"Monstrous men will turn and flee, when faced with threats of sky and sea."

"'Tell the cat I loved her.' 'We haven't got a cat.'"

"Did it ever occur to you, Tregle, that practically suffocating someone in their sleep is not the most ideal method of instilling a sense of calm in them?"

"It rests upon the ocean - a vast body of water that glitters with secrets."

"The smile Aleta unfurls is far more cutting than any knife I've ever held."

"They know that fire can burn. But they've forgotten how water can scald."

Overall, though this book was good, I didn't particularly find it great, though I didn't think it was terrible either. I enjoyed it and it is a great fantasy read. I would love to read the next in the series, especially to find out what happens next.